Display lighting apparatus



Sspt. 26, 1961 L. J. RAFTER, JR

DISPLAY LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F l G 6 INVENTOR.

LOUIS J. RAFTER JR.

ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 v J. RAFTER, JR

DISPLAY LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R R m MR N E R O W I] 9 S mm m NA T 2 M w I A w l Jp G 6 6 I U I 6 O F i L T i1li 6 a B 8 5 4 f t i! nited States This invention pertains to the art of illumination and, more particularly, to improved variegated electric lighting apparatus.

The apparatus of this invention has numerous specific applications. It is especially useful in the related fields of display and advertising lighting. In this connection, the apparatus may be advantageously employed to obtain a wide variety of attractive and ornamental illuminated display efl'ects and attention-directing and pleasing advertising lighting effects.

The invention affords a number of important features, including the following:

(1) A single control unit determines the sequence and duration of energization of individual lamps in one or more lamp assemblies. The control unit is located outside of each lamp assembly and operates independently of the assembly. This eliminates the need for thermal controls for individual lamps or lamp assemblies and results in substantial savings in manufacturing costs.

(2) The timing of energization of particular lamps is positive and dependable. The parts of the apparatus are so constructed and arranged as to permit of ready changes in the color cycle of any lamp assembly without disturbing the color cycle of remaining lamp assemblies in a string of such assemblies. In fact, many color combinations may be attained in a single string of lamp assemblies, thereby aifording a wide range of illumination eflects with the same equipment.

- (3) The apparatus of this invention includes a stepdown transformer and low amperage lamps. The inclusion of these parts reduces the operating costs of the apparatus and avoids undesirable interference in radio and television reception.

(4) The parts of the lamp assembly of this invention are coupled together by simple, novel and improved snapfit connections. As a consequence, the lamp assembly may be readily and quickly put together and individual lamps thereof may be easily replaced without the use of tools.

(5) The lamp assemblies of the apparatus. may be located indoors or out-of-doors without being adversely affected by atmospheric elements or storms.

The primary object of this invention is to provide variegated electric lighting apparatus having improved structural and operational characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide display and advertising electric lighting apparatus including one or more lamp assemblies and a single control unit which is independent of each lamp assembly and which dependably controls the sequence and duration of energization of individual lamps in each assembly.

The invention has for a further object the provision of variegated lighting apparatus including at least one lamp assembly having a plurality of lamps, the parts of the assembly being so constructed and arranged as to permit of ready uniting of such parts and replacement of individual lamps without the use of tools.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a display lighting lamp assembly of improved design and simplified construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character indicated that is simple and attractive in design, that is rugged and durable in construction, that is reasonable in manufacturing and main- 3,002,174 Patented Sept. 26, 1961 tenance costs, that is economical in operating cost, and that is capable of performing its intended functionsin a dependable and trouble-free manner.

The enumerated objects and additional objects, together with the advantages of the invention, will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the annexed drawings which respectively describe and illustrate an arrangement of apparatus embodying the invention and a modification thereof.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic view of an arrangement of apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 isa top plan view of the core or base of a lamp assembly of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along staggered line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an electrically conductive disc element which is a part of the lamp assembly;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; .FIG. 6 is a view in enlargement taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a lamp assembly of this invention, parts being omitted for better illustration of other parts;

FIG. 8 is-a view of the lamp assembly taken along staggered line 8--8 of FIG. 7; 7

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of a sleeve which is a element of the lamp assembly. shown in other views;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along staggered line 10--10 of FIG. 9 and inverted to illustrate the sleeve in normal upstanding position;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a modification of the invention; and 1 FIG. 12 is aview taken along staggered line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a combined transformer, timer and switch unit is generally identified by numeral 15. This unitincludes a base 16 and a cover (not shown). .The base supports a transformer 17 for reducing the voltage of electric current supplied thereto from volts to 7 volts. To this end, the transformer is provided with a 110 volt primary coil 18 and a 7 volt secondary coil 20. Primary coil 18 is adapted to be connected by electric leads 21 and 22 to a 110 volt electric current supply (not shown). One end of secondary coil 20 is connected to a conductor wire 23 which serves as a common ground for parts that will be described further along herein. The other end of coil 20 is connected to a switch device 24 through the intermediary of a conductor wire 25, a fuse 26 and a conductor wire 27 which are arranged in series, as shown.

Switch device 24 is generally E-shaped and is made of a single piece of flexible, resilient, electrically conductive material, such as brass.- The switch device includes a support member 28 which is connected to conductor wire 27 and is secured to an insulating bar 30 by rivets or the like 31. The insulating bar is attached to the base by screws 32. Device 24 also includes a plurality of parallel, resilient, finger-like switch members 33, 34 and 35, having free ends which overlie and normally contact electric terminals 33a, 34a and 35a, respectively. The electric terminals are carried by an insulating bar 36 which is mounted on base 16. Connected to terminals 33a, 34a and 35a are corresponding conductor wire 33b, 34b and 35b.

Switch members 33, 34 and 35 are adapted to be flexed individually in an upward direction and out of engagement with the electric terminals by an arrangement 3. ofdevices that will now be described. These devices include a motor driven electric timer 37 having a rotary shaft 38 which is positioned beneath the switch mem bers. The shaft is mounted for rotation on a pair of spaced" supports it) that are secured to the; base: The timer is adapted to be connected by electric leads 41 and 42 to the source of 110 volt electric energy supply. A pluralityof spaced cams-33c,- 340 and 350 are carried by and rotatable with shaft 38; One of thecams, namely cam 33c, is illustrated in detailin.FlG. 6; This cam is. arcuate in configuration and; has a pair of oppositely disposed inner teats 43 which register with diametrically opposed recesses 44 in the shaft. The other cams are similarly constructed but have different outer edge configurations; It will be appreciated thatthe' configurations I of the cams determines the sequence and duration of upward flexing or corresponding switch. members during: each revolution of the shaft; Thus; by properly designing the cams, at least one of the switch membersis in contact with its terminal during each increment of revolution of the shaft and various combinations of switch members are in contact with the terminals during other increments of shaft revolution.

Lead 23 and conductor wires 33b, 34b and? 3517- are connected to one or morelamp assemblieswhich are g enorally indicated by numeral 45 inPIG'. 1 and which are illustrated in detail in other views. Each lamp assembly includes a core or base B, a ground .disc D, a-sleeve Sglamps L43, L-34 and L-35, a mantle M andi aspring clip C;

Base B is made of a suitable molded, electricinsulating synthetic resin composition, such as=the material made and marketed by Marlon CheinicalrCorp. under the-trade mark C'ycolac. The base is-best'. showninaFIGS. 2. and

3 and has a generally right circular"cylindrical outer'sun face. The base is provided witha: plurality of. outer arcuate ribs 46, a: laterally projecting lug' 47, and-a ver-.

tically projecting extension 48. A recessed is. formed in. extension 48 and lathe portion; ofiithe base v between the extension and lug 47. Three symmetricallyjarranged vertical slots -1. are provided in. the base. Each slot has a relatively narrow rectilinear outer portion; 52: and a relatively wide arcuate innerportion 53.; Each slot-portion;:53. includes an. upper portion 5410f: enlarged diame-. ter. (FIG. 3) which is partly definedxby an arcuate shoulder 55. The base has an. additional arcuate slot- 56. which-is similar to earlier described; slot portion: 53. The upper part of slot 56 is ofenlargedidiameter and is defined in part by a corresponding shoulder SYJ FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the configuration and; con-' struction of'ground disc D. Thisdiscis electrically-conductive and is made of brass-or,other;.suitable;--metal. The. disc has three symmetrically arranged .throughopens inasfitlwhich are sd p dn qbe; gu dzwithcorre po dr ing-arcuate slot portions 52%v of baseB'. 'lfneldiscisaprovidedz-with pairs f; iam ic lly opposed-n t hes at. hich me g h p i gs 6e. The. ,-di.s.c;.has, a; pa r. o upwardly arching aligned. ofisets. 62 for each opening 66. Each pair of offsets is disposed atan; angle of approximately 90" with respect'to corresponding notches 61.. The disc also has an arcuate outennotch;63 for, reception of base extension. lflwhfillzlhepartsare assem bled as shown in FIG, 8,. This-notch; angleggtension arrangement serves to properly align;the disoopenings ll with base slot portions 54..

Reference is next had to FIGS 9 and forganlunderstanding of the constructionof sleeve S; As inl thecase o fiibase B, sleeve S ismade of Cycolac? or-othersuitablesynthetic resin compositio11 v The sleeve has, atits lower end, a notch 64 andaninner annular groove fis and, .at its upper end, anouter annular-;-rib-66 and an .inner annular groove 67. A partition 68 extends across the interior and intermediate theends. of the sleeve. The, partition divides the interior of the sleeve-into a lower compartment and an upper compartment. Formed in the partition are through openings 7%, through notches 75 4: Y 71 and recesses 72 which correspond, respectively, in number, location and configuration to openings 6t}, notches 61 and offsets 62 of disc D. Also formed in the partition is a recess 73 for receiving the upper end of base extension 43.

Base B, disc D and sleeve S are-adapted to be assembled, as illustrated in- F16 8, with disc D, positioned intermediate the lower end of sleevepartition 68 and the upper end of the base and with the base positioned within the lower compartment of the sleeve. Base extension 48 extends through notch 63 in the disc and terminates in sleeve recess 5%, thereby insuring proper-positioning of the parts and alignment of the earlier described openings in the base, disc and sleeve. Bas'e'ribs 46 register with inner annular groove of the sleeve to efifect coupling engagement between the base and the sleeve.

Lamps L53, 11-34 and L-35 are best shown inFlG. 8'. Each lampincludes a contact-button 75- and a tubular contact member 7s which are spaced apart and connected to the lamp filament (not'shown) in theusual manner. Tubular contact is has a pair of'diainetr-ically opposed, outwardly projecting pins; 77'. Each lamp also includes a translucentglass envelope 78. The glass :en velopes of the lamps are colored difierently, the envelope of lamp L493 being colored red, the envelope of:

lamp L34 being colored yellow and the envelope of lamp L-35 being-colorediblue. As-is well known in-the art, combinations of 'theseprimarycolors; result in cor: responding; secondary colors: Thus, a'jblendhof red; and yellow yields orange, 21 blendiof; redjandblue yields purple and a blend of-yel-lowand blueyields; white; The lamps are adapted to be mounted in the assembly of base, disc and sleeve, as shown, witl t its tubular contact-member '76 in registry with-l ccrrespondingaligned openings 6b and Eachlamp is inserteddownwardly; through its sleeve; opening inn manner that itspins 77 pass notches 71-, after whiclrthe lamp is turned 9 0 so that its pins register withdiscolfsetsl Each lamp is yieldingly maintainedin theillustrating. position through the medium of contacts carried by corresponding conductor, wire 33!), 34b, and 35b. The contact ofiwire 34b is indicated at 34a in FIG. 8. This contact-is normally urged upwardly and into engagement with lamp button contact by ahelica'l spring. 34f which bears against base shoulder 55 and the-contact. Like contact and spring arrangcmentsare provided for the otherlamps.

Ground lead 23 has a contactZSe which bears against disc D, as showninlFlG. 8. Contact 232; is yieldingly urged against the disc by a helical spring 23;.

Mantle M ismade of asuitable synthetic rcsincomposition. Apreferred and recommended material for the mantle is one produced and marketed byEastman Chemical Co. under the trademark Tenite, whichis understood to be anacetate type synthetic; plastic. Thernantle is translucent and flexible and, for best results, is pearl. white in color, The mantleis provided with an annular rib 80 which, registers with innerannular groove 6'7 in sleeve Sto efiect ready coupling or uncoupling engagement between themantle and the sleeve.

Clip C is intended for use inrattaching the lamp assembly to a support, such ;asa rod, bracketor'the like. The clip is madeof a: suitableresilient metal and includes a generally U-shaped member consisting ofan inner arm 81, an outer arm 32 and a web 83. Outer arrn82 has an extensionfid which is bent and curved. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, clip arm Slis disposed between the base and the sleeve and registers with base; recess 59. Ann 82 bears against the outer'face otthe sleeve, while web 8,3 registers with sleeve notcho.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a lamp assembly 45 removably mounted on a display-lighting, panel 85. The panel has a circular opening 86 for receiving sleeves. A syn thetic plastic ring 37 is provided with an inner annular groove 88. As is shown in FIG. 12, the lower portion of sleeve S extends through ring 87 and panel'opening 86;

and annular rib 66 registers with groove 88 to efiect coupling engagement between the sleeve and the ring. The ring is afilxed to panel 85 by screws 90'.

For the purpose of outlining the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 10, it is assumed that the parts are assembled, connected and in the relative position shown in the drawings. Leads 21 and 22 are connected to a source of 110 volt electric current supply, thereby placing the apparatus in active service. Transformer 17 reduces the voltage of the current supplied to leads 23 and 25 from 110 volts to 7 volts. Timer 37 is energized and its shaft 38 is rotated. Cams 33c, 34c and 35c, due to their configuration, allow switch members 33, 34 and 35 to remain in contact with corresponding terminals 33a, 34a and 35a during portions of each complete revolution of the shaft and flex the switch members to place the same out of contact with corresponding terminals during other portions of each revolution of the shaft. It will be appreciated that the corresponding lamps are placed into and out of active service during each revolution of the shaft. As a result and depending on the configuration of the cams, individual lamps and/or combinations of lamps are energized during each revolution of the shaft. For example, during part of each revolution of the shaft, only lamp L-33 (red) is energized, during another part only lamp L-34 (yellow) is energized, during another part only lamp L35 (blue) is energized, during another part lamps L-33 and L34 are energized and yield an orange color through the mantle, during another part lamps L-34 and L-35 are energized yielding white color through the mantle and during still another part lamps L-33 and L-35 are energized yielding a purple color through the mantle. The sequence and duration of energization of individual lamps and combinations of lamps may be varied, as desired, by proper cam design.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in size, shape and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a socket assembly for receiving and supporting a plurality of electric lamps each of which includes a pair of spaced electric contacts, said socket assembly comprising an upstanding, one-piece sleeve including a partition dividing its interior into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said partition having a plurality of through openings formed therein, a base positioned at least partly in the lower compartment, said base and sleeve comprising an electrical insulating material, an electrically conductive element intermediate the base and the partition and positioned wholly within the confines of the sleeve, a plurality of first electric terminals and a single second electric terminal in the lower compartment, said second terminal being electrically connected to the conductive element, each of said lamps being adapted to register with a corresponding opening in the partition with one of its contacts electrically connected to a corresponding first terminal and its other contact electrically connected to the conductive element.

2. In a socket assembly for receiving and supporting a plurality of electric lamps each of which includes a pair of spaced electric contacts, said socket assembly comprising an upstanding, one-piece sleeve including a partition dividing its interior into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said partition having a plurality of through openings formed therein, said sleeve having an inner groove in the portion which defines the lower compartment, a base positioned at least partly in the lower compartment and including an outer rib which registers with the sleeve groove to efiect coupling engagement between the base and the sleeve, said base and sleeve comprising an electrical insulating material, an electrically conductive element intermediate the base and the partition and positioned wholly within the confines of the sleeve, a plurality of first electric terminals and a single second electric terminal in the lower compartment, said second terminal being electrically connected to the conductive element, each of said lamps being adapted to register with a corresponding opening in the partition with one of its contacts electrically connected to a corresponding first terminal and its other contact electrically connected to the conductive element.

3. In a socket assembly for receiving and supporting a plurality of electric lamps each of which includes a pair of spaced electric contacts, said socket assembly comprising an upstanding, one-piece sleeve including a partition dividing its interior into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said partition having a plurality of through openings formed therein, a base positioned at least partly in the lower compartment, said base and sleeve comprising an electrical insulating material, an electrically conductive element intermediate the base and the partition and positioned wholly within the confines of the sleeve, said conductive element comprising a disc having a plurality of through openings each of which is aligned with a corresponding opening in the partition, a plurality of first electric terminals and a single second electric terminal in the lower compartment, said second terminal being electrically connected to the conductive element, each of said lamps being adapted to register with corresponding aligned openings in the partition and the disc with one of its cont acts electrically connected to a corresponding first terminal and its other contact electrically connected to the conductive element.

4. A socket assembly according to claim 3 wherein the lamp includes a tubular contact and a button contact, said tubular and button contacts being electrically conductive and adapted to be positioned within the confines of the sleeve with the button contact disposed below the conductive element and forming an electrical connection with a corresponding first terminal and the tubular contact forming an electrical connection with the conductive element.

5. A socket assembly according to claim 3 including a resilient clip for attaching the assembly to a support, said clip including a U-shaped member comprising first and second arms and a web, said first arm being positioned between the base and the sleeve, said web projecting outwardly of the sleeve, said second arm being positioned exterior of the sleeve, and a bent extension carried by the second arm.

6. A socket assembly according to claim 3 wherein the sleeve includes an outer annular rib, the assembly also comprising a ring having an annular groove formed therein and being adapted to be afiixed to a support, said outer annular rib registering with the annular groove in the ring to efiect coupling engagement between the sleeve and the ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,822 Benjamin Sept. 15, 1908 2,016,220 Anderson Oct. 1, 1935 2,066,145 Fink et a1 Dec. 29, 1936 2,146,422 Davis Feb. 7, 1939 2,439,480 Majusick Apr. 13, v1948 2,812,423 Penna Nov. 5, 1957 

